Combination chair and drop-leaf table



July 22, 1952 M. NELSON COMBINATION CHAIR AND DROP-LEAF TABLE Filed July5, 1950 I 1 I I f/21/e/27or Marlin M15011 M W Patented July 22, 1952amt-newts PATENT ow 2,604,142 7 'COMBINATIOKJCHAIR AND DROP-LEAF TABLE 1Martin Nelson, Menlo Park, Qalif. 7 Application July 3, 1950, Serial No.171,845

This invention relatesto furniture and'more particularly'to woodenchairs of the type having a straight back provided with a table-likesection for supporting articles such as dishes and'the like thereon. l

The chair proper embodying'the present invention may be of any wellknown form and construction. However, the chair best adapted for thepurpose is of the Swedish peasant ty e, rustic or modern',-such as wouldbe suitable for social gatherings in clubs and other public meetingplaces, or dens and playrooms of dwellings.

As is often the case in social gatherings or events, foods and beveragesare served inan informal manner, as for instance buffet style. At

such events the problem of a guest balancing on his knee aserviceplatewhile holding acup' or glass is notoriously precarious andoften embarrassing, when the guest should be at ease and enjoy hisrefreshments with comfort and pleasure.

It is to this end that the present invention is directed.

From the foregoing it is apparent that this invention has as its objectto provide a novel drop leaf table which can be disposed to supportreceptacles relieving occupants of the chair from holding or otherwisejuggling such receptacles. Another object is to provide a concealedpanel in a chair back adapted for'horizontal disposition to provideatable.

Yet another object is to 'providea chair back which is simple inconstruction, economical to manufacture, and highly efficient in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a drop' leaf tablebracket completely below the tableitself so as to render the latter"accessible from all sides other than that which is connected to thechair.

- A'still further object is to provide 'a'recessed chair back having adrop leaf panel hinged thereto for movement into and out of registerwith the recessed chair back.

These.and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent in the following description. and claims taken with thedrawings in which:

Fig.1 is a perspective view of a chair embody- Fig. 3 as seen fromabove.

The'chair proper It consists of the usual seat "portion ll having legs[2 which may be] joined by the usual cross bracing or tie rods'asdesired.

Depending upon the style ofchair, the'seat I l 3 Claims. (Cl. 15512 3) 2is either plain, contoured orprovided with an applied seat of reed orthe like. In all events the perimeter of the seat ll preferably has theform shown with a rearward extension l3 to provide indented rear edgesl5 and i6 at either side of the extension [3. g

The chair i0 is provided with a back 20 suitably anchored at its base tothe seat ll slightly forward of the indented rear edges and 16.

This leaves a substantial platform 2| rearwardly V of the back 20, whichplatform includes the rearward extension l3 and a part of the seat.

The upstanding back is tilted rearwardly andis further supported by amain block or bracket 22 having its base secured by glue and/or dowelsto the platform 2| and having its altitudinal edge 23 likewisesecured tothe rear wall of the back 20.

As is often the case where men are gathered. a man will sit facing thechair back with his legs straddling the same. Thus seated a man may resthis arms on the top of the chair back or his arms are free for gesturingand the like.

The side edges of the chair back 20 are configurated to provide recesses25 and 26 comparable to the indented rear edges I5 and I6 respectivelyof the chair seat. The foregoing configuration of the rearedges of'theseat and the side edges of the chair back' are suited for reversedsitting of an individual. In other words, the side recesses 25 and 26receive the thighs of the occupant while the indented rear edges permitarticulation of the knees ofthe occupant.

Now then, when the occupant thus seated is served with dishes of food itis most convenient to have the dishes immediately before him. To.

this enda drop leaf table 301 is provided on the rear face of the chairback at a suitable height to be accessible to the hands of the occupantof the chair.

The drop leaf table 30 comprises apanel 3| having one of its edges32connected by hinges 33Tto the rear wall of the chair back.The'arrangement is such that the panel 3| can be raised into a. positionin which it is disposed parallel to the chair baokZD. Suitable means 35,in the formof all'atch fingerv 36 secured to the rear face of ithelbackfor pivotal movement, isprovided to latch the panel'3l in suchraisedposition] j The location of the hinges 33 is such that'the loweror connecting edge 32 of the panel 3| is .disposed in a plane coincidentto a horizontal p line, extended between the upper extremities of therecesses 25 and 26 formed in the side edgesv a rearward direction fromthe upper extremity:

31 of the block 22. A supplemental block 42 is suitably secured to theunder surface-of the panel 3| and this block 42 is provided with asurface 43 adapted to engage thesurface -33 of V the main block 22.

jiei'gide angles whienfwhen combined, result in a twopiecesupportjhav'ing a horizontal upper surface 44. In addition to theforegoing it will be noted that the supplementalfblock 42 extendsals'u'hstantial distance from the hinge connection of the panel 3|, thatis to say, the attaching surface 44 of block 42 extendswell beyond thesupporting surface 33 of main block ,22'; In this the load of the table30 istransferr'ed a the extended supplemental block 42 tothe flnainflblock 22. a

In this ,rnanner the panel '3! to which the surfface 44' is secured ismaintained in a'horizontal positionbythe cornbined'action of the hinges3'! and the abutting blocks 38 and 42;;

Asbest illustrated in Fig. 4, the chair back 20 is recessed or routedout as at 45', Fig; 3, preferably in a patternhaving edges 46substantially spaced from the outer edgesof the chair back. Thisrecess345 is of a; depth comparable to the thicknessof the'jpanel"'3l soas to receive the latter. Thus thefunder or outer s'urface41 of thepanel 3] is disposed to lie flush with the Trear'surfaceof the chairback thereby concealing'the panel3l While the hinges 3T areshown jtobein full view it will be'apparent tha-t they 't'oo 'can" be concealedby employing any one of the well known types of concealed hingesavailebleen the market.

Y As hereinbefore explained, the panel "31' is latched in raisedposition by the means 35in which condition the back 20, with panel 3|concealed therein, has the appearance of a plain "chair back with acarved groove 46", Fig. 1, desi'ghated therein. By'the sametokenthe mainand supplemental b1o'cks'38 and 42 have the appearance of a continuousbracket with an angular inset 49 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

The chair thus constructed is suitable for use inthe conventional manneras a part of a break- "fastset or for use at banquet table's. However,at 'informalfgatherings or like occasions when refreshments are served,the latch' 3 5, whenre leased, will anew the ,panelto drop by its "ownWeight; Thus the' chairs ofithefpresent invention arepro'vided witha-dish support above lap height for ready use by'the p'er's'onsgathereugh the straddling of t back i f n chair by r verse sitting isadvantageous it is apparent that personss'eated forwardly on one chairmayplace their dishes on a table 3|! one chair immediately ahead.Moreover; when sev- "eral chairs are arranged in a circle,small"giroups';of' people can refresh themselves in comfortwhen t ir dishesaref'placedon'the' tahle" seer an adjacent chair. While I have describedmy'inventiojn specifically""ahd in detail, it" will "be apparent tothose 55 panel is 4 skilled in the art that certain modifications,alterations and variations in construction can be made withoutdeparting. from the invention herein; I'i therefore de to availjmyselfof all 5 rnodifica tio ns, alterations andvariations as fair- ;13' comewithin the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1'. In a chair of the type having a seat and a back having a panelhingedly mounted thereon for swinging movement between raised andlowered position; the combination therewith of a bracket for supportingaaid panel in a horizon- 15 tal position when lowered comprising a mainblock securedto-saidehair back and to said'chair seawearwarmyadjacent'said chair back, said main block having an, inclined" upperfacetierfilinatihg at the axis aboutwhichsaid 'hin'ge'dly mounted panelswings, a supplemental-block hav mg 'ajnj attaching surface secured tothe' -outer surface of said their "back I in alignment with saidlnainblock and ,provided' w'ith an inclined 's'n fade also 'terminatin'g atthe axis abo'utjw-hich said panel swings whereby said main and sup:p1ementa1 blocks present a subs'tantially'continu ous bracket havinganangular inset, said main and supplemental blocks" each bein'gfiofwedgeform ini'which the angle included "in each when 'eombined resultsin"disposihgthe"attachingsur face (if the supplemental block-in a;horizontal position when said panel is; moved into lowered position; I gl q j "2. In a chair of the type havingaseat anda recessed 'baek"extending" 'u' w'ardly therefrom a substantial distance inwardly oftherear; edge of saidseat to leave a platform on the rear 'edge of said1 seat and a drop leaf p nel; hingedly mounted on the rearsurfa'ee ofsaid seatback 40 for movement intbT'alSBdfpOsitiOII' in whichjts oi'itersurface lie'sf 'fiushwith the'rearjface fof said back and into ioweredpositio nffor'extensi'on horizontally "ffi'olnf "said {back the"combination therewith of a bracket comprising am'aid'block secured .tosaid platform and tofthe rearface "er said back and a 'supplementalblockhaving an attaching] surface secured to'the" outer'fa'ce of said panelTihalignmentfwith said mainblock. each sai'dj'm'faiichsupplemental'block having corresponding opposing angularlydisposed faces adapted to engage; one anotherjwhen'said panel V'i's'lo'wered to support the same in fahoritontal position and toprovidean indentationfbetween said main" and supplemental blocks "when said fed in raised] q-si'tion, and means on "said chair -back for latching;said'panel in raised position.

'a Ini a yehai'r'havm aseait and e backdisposed asubstantial-"distanceinward,rrernfthe reariedge seer said seattoprovi'de a platformja'djacenfthe rear face of said back, saidvbackfhav ing inwardly ,tehdingfarcuated sidewall for' rec'ei'vin' th'ethis said seat; the comhinatio therewithbf a'dr'op '1'af't'ab1eedmpri'sing a pan'er hihgediy mounted on said back for pivotal movementa out an coinciding; a l"ine extending between the upper extremitiesofs'aii l arcuated side walls 4, of said backwhereby to posesaid panel511st above the thighs of alpers eatedon;said-.seat wh n sai pa e ext dshe z ea of saidback, and bracket means comprising a i'. ek s u?ed to aplatform n said ac and a-supplementallblocksecured;to the ofit'f fifidr"sliifab (ifslfd "paner'tdpresefit a MARTIN NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of'this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date v366 Barrows Aug. 31, 1837164,370 Ham June 15, 1875 0 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 217,385Great Britain June 19, 1924

